Culture Ireland offers bursaries for jazzahead 2020!

Jazzahead!, the world’s biggest industry event for jazz and improvised music, takes place from 23-26 April in Bremen, Germany. Culture Ireland is offering a number of bursaries to Irish jazz musicians to attend this important event as part of the Irish delegation, led by Improvised Music Company.

Culture Ireland bursaries

For 2020, Culture Ireland is offering a limited number of delegate bursaries aimed at those artists, managers, members of resource organisations and companies who have a track record of achievement in the contemporary jazz genre. Experience of touring internationally, the availability of excellent promotional material, and a clear demonstration of the benefits of your attendance at jazzahead! is also essential. Previous recipients of Culture Ireland bursaries to attend jazzahead! are still eligible to apply.

Ireland’s presence at jazzahead! is led by the Improvised Music Company. Should you be successful in your application, Improvised Music Company will host dedicated pre-event meetings with each recipient to establish your aims and goals for attending the trade show. Success at industry events such as jazzahead! are largely based on considered preparation on the part of the applicant, with assistance from Culture Ireland and Improvised Music Company. Additionally, a condition of the bursary is a requirement to assist with periodic delegate staffing of the Irish booth.

The award (€600 per delegate) is towards the costs of return flights, registration and a contribution towards accommodation and subsistence.

Only one delegate bursary will be awarded per organisation.

Applicants should apply online to Culture Ireland. The deadline for proposals is Friday 28th February 2020.

What is jazzahead!?

Jazzahead! is one of the world’s largest showcase festivals and industry trade fairs.

It is now one of the most important international professional markets for jazz and improvised music of all persuasions. The four-day event attracts more than 3,200 industry attendees from over 55 countries, including hundreds of concert and festival bookers, labels, publishers, distributors, managers and the world's media all in one place. This year’s conference is taking place from 23-26 April 2020 in Bremen, Germany.

For the past 4 years, Improvised Music Company has sought to increase Ireland’s exposure of its jazz talent at jazzahead! Working directly with Culture Ireland and their export arm Music From Ireland, we are now in our 4th year of sending Irish agents and artists directly to jazzahead! to attend & network with industry leaders, influencers and their peers, and most importantly, to generate work for themselves abroad.

In 2019, IMC represented Irish artists to an array of European programmers via an Irish playlist, Virtual Reality video showcasing, personal meetings and a variety of promotional materials. See IMC’s jazzahead web page for a taste of the representation of Irish artists at jazzahead!